This is a bit of a picture postcard shot really but I think it is a good image showing the medieval Belsay Castle in Northumberland.
Apparently it was built in 1370 and it was used as a residence by the Middleton family until Christmas Day 1817 when the family moved into the newly built mansion just a short distance away
The original castle was stripped of its furnishings and used as a folly in the extensive grounds and was used to host summer parties.
I think I prefer the original castle to the modern hall, how about you? Leave a comment to let me know your preference...
In the grounds of Belsay Hall and Castle in Northumberland there is a strange labyrinth of pathways through rocky gorges. It is an unusual and slightly magical place and although the paths in most places are wide and well trodden it is easy to feel lost and alone, even on a day when there are lots of visitors.
I spent a really nice afternoon here with my mum a couple of years ago and looking back at these pictures I am reminded of that day.
I am always looking for a photo opportunity and it is always frustrating when I am out and about and I don't have my camera handy. It has also been frustrating recently as I haven't been able to get out taking pictures and that has given me cause to go back through some old files.
We can often find something of beauty in unexpected places and even functional items can be great photographic subjects. Take this cast iron fire basket for example with its elegant curves and decorative ball. I can imagine flaming logs here sending out warmth and light into the room. How welcome that would be on nights like these when it is cold and damp outside.
We often see the whole article for example the carriage in the first picture and we are taken by the overall look. We might say "wow!" when we see it, as I did when I stumbled across this carriage tucked away in part of Belsay Hall in Northumberland. But of course the overall beauty of an object is really the sum of all its parts and getting in close as I have in the other pictures you can see the incredible workmanship and attention to detail which goes together to make up the finished article.
This carriage is not just a simple means of getting from A to B it is a status symbol and the quality can be seen in the finish of the individual elements. I also think that they make pretty nice pictures on their own too.
In contrast to yesterday's rather chilly pictures I have chosen something summery and warming for today.
In July I took my mum to visit Belsay Hall in Northumberland, its definitely worth a visit although the hall itself is a bit of an oddity. The gardens however are really pleasant, in particular the quarry gardens which meander through the old quarry which provided the stone for the hall and castle. The path seems to flow through the garden enclosed in places by the high rock walls which as you pass through reveals little treasures. The first picture is just one example of this.
The second picture is of the simple daisy which I think is a quintessential English summer flower.
I hope that in sharing these two pictures I have brought a little warmth to your day wherever you are...
